The Dickson County Commission last night voted to make attorney Brian Ragan the interim state representative for House District 69, the Tennessean reports. Ragan will temporarily replace former Republican Rep. Michael Curcio, who resigned from the House in May and recently joined lobbying firm Talbert Government Relations. Ragan is with the law firm Reynolds, Potter, Ragan & Vandivort and also serves as county attorney for Dickson County. He will serve as interim representative until the November election.

Stanley Douglas Darnell was last week censured by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Darnell failed to provide sufficient oversight of his legal assistant, who prepared a forged final decree and letter without Darnell’s knowledge. He also did not have protocols in place sufficient to reveal that the client’s divorce petition hadn’t been filed. Darnell also received a flat fee for the representation and failed to place the unearned funds in his trust account at the beginning of the representation. A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorney’s ability to practice law.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett was charged with driving under the influence on Friday as he was leaving the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Coffee County, the Tennessean reports. Hargett was booked into the Coffee County Jail shortly after 1 a.m. CDT on Saturday and released before 5:30 a.m. “Driving Under the Influence is a serious matter, and I regret the circumstances that led to my arrest,” Hargett said in a statement. “I respect law enforcement and will trust the legal process as we move forward.” According to the Tennessee Lookout, lawmakers will not seek Hargett's resignation following the arrest. 

Philip Joseph Perez was yesterday permanently disbarred from the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court. A Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) hearing panel found that Perez received retainer fees but failed to provide services; failed to file complaints; misled clients to believe their complaints had been filed; failed to appear for scheduled hearings and motions; failed to return unearned retainer fees; and failed to notify clients of his suspension from the practice of law. In addition to disbarment, Perez must also pay $2,258.33 in costs incurred to the BPR.

The second installment in the TBA Young Lawyers Division’s special Juneteenth podcast series features an interview with Senior U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Curtis Collier and Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge John McClarty. Chattanooga attorney and YLD member Martin Trimiew talks with Collier and McClarty about the trials and tribulations they faced on their paths to becoming lawyers, how diversity in the law has changed since they were new attorneys and how it could be bettered. A new episode of the Juneteenth series will be released each day of the TBA’s Annual Convention and can be found on the TBA YLD’s podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The fourth and final episode of the TBA Young Lawyers Division Diversity Committee’s Juneteenth podcast series premiered on Saturday, the final day of TBA’s Annual Convention. The episode features a discussion with TBA YLD President Billy Leslie, YLD Diversity Committee Co-chair Ariel Anthony, YLD Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Chair Dominique Winfrey and former DLI class member Anthony Adewumi on the DLI program and its many benefits. The four-part series consists of interviews with attorneys and judges from across the state who share their wisdom in the journey towards professional success through a diversity lens. All episodes can be found on the TBA YLD podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division’s special Juneteenth podcast series continues today with the release of its third episode featuring Shelby County Chancellor Will Perry. Incoming YLD President Elect Quinton Thompson talks with Perry about challenges Black attorneys face in the legal profession, his advice for young attorneys getting involved in the community and advice for lawyers who are considering making a move from their firm or in their career. The final episode in the Juneteenth series will premiere Saturday. It will feature a conversation between outgoing TBA YLD President Billy Leslie, YLD Diversity Committee Co-Chair Ariel Anthony, YLD Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Chair Dominique Winfrey and former DLI class member Anthony Adewumi on the DLI program and its many benefits. The Juneteenth series can be found on the TBA YLD’s podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division’s Diversity Committee today premiered a special four-part podcast series honoring the first anniversary of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Today’s episode features Nashville attorney Charles Grant. Interviewed by YLD Diversity Committee Co-chair Cherrelle Hooper and YLD member Darius Walker, Grant discusses his illustrious career as a trial lawyer, the mentors who helped him and the challenges and successes he faced along the way. One episode of the series will premiere each day of the TBA Convention. Listen to each episode on the TBA YLD Presents: War Stories podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Attorney Well Being Committee is sponsoring this year’s Contemplative Space during the TBA Annual Convention. The space serves as a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of Convention and will be available to all attendees from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Massages will be available on a first come, first served basis on Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon and Friday from 1:30 until 4 p.m. CDT.  Silence your phone, put down your work and head over to the Contemplative Space to meditate, recharge or practice the wellness activity of your choosing!

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has postponed its Memorial Service scheduled for June 17 due to the current high transmission level of COVID-19 in Davidson County and elevated transmission levels in other counties within the district. The service will be rescheduled at a later date.